We asked the charge nurse to send us to get fit-tested for the N95 mask that everyone was wearing.

“We had one patient that we thought had the virus. The next minute, you aren’t that important to get the proper equipment, but you are important enough to clean for the next patient.” Source: Data from May 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey Learn more about the essential role they are playing in the pandemic and what policymakers and employers should do to better protect, compensate, support, and respect them. More than 80% of them are women, and they are also disproportionately workers of color.

Median wages across these occupations were just $13.48 per hour in 2019-well short of a living wage.

Health care service workers such as housekeepers and cooks.

Direct care workers such as home health and personal care aides.

Health care support workers such as orderlies and phlebotomists.

Nearly 7 million essential workers are employed in low-wage health jobs on the COVID-19 front lines, including: Millions of other health workers earn significantly lower wages while receiving less public recognition for their roles, despite their sacrifices.

Although doctors and nurses-who earn a median wage of $105 per hour and $34 per hour, respectively-receive the lion’s share of public recognition for their life-saving role in the fight against COVID-19, they represent less than 20% of all essential health workers.

Company of heros 2 medic trucks